Blog
Plain-language pieces on BC real estate, corporate, estate planning, and civil litigation. Written for the people who hire us, not for other lawyers.
Probate is the BC Supreme Court's confirmation that a will is valid and the executor can act. When it is required, how long it takes, and what it costs.
Read articleHoldco, family trust, or a second class of shares: three tools for splitting income, sheltering retained earnings, and planning succession in a BC company.
Read articleThe GST New Housing Rebate refunds 36% of GST paid on a new BC home, capped at $6,300. The eligibility rules are narrower than buyers expect.
Read articleBC probate fees run about 1.4% of the gross estate above $50,000 — about $13,650 on a $1M estate. How the math works and the tools to plan around it.
Read articleA minute-by-minute walkthrough of completion day on a BC residential purchase — who does what, what can go wrong, and when you actually get the keys.
Read articleA Personal Real Estate Corporation can defer six figures of tax over a career — or almost nothing. Worked examples at $150K, $250K, and $400K in commission.
Read articleAdding an adult child to a BC home title looks like clean probate avoidance. The tax, creditor, and litigation risks usually outweigh the fees saved.
Read articleBC first-time buyers can save up to $50,000 in GST on new homes under $1M. The eligibility tests, the math, and what your lawyer files at closing.
Read articleNaming co-executors in a BC will feels safer than one executor — but it sometimes is not. How joint decisions work and what to do about deadlock.
Read articleBC real estate deposits are not automatically forfeited or refunded. Who keeps the money when a deal collapses depends on why, when, and the contract.
Read articleJoint tenants vs tenants in common in BC: right of survivorship, what happens on death, probate, and how to change title. A plain-English guide.
Read articleThe lifetime capital gains exemption can shelter hundreds of thousands in gains on selling a qualifying small business corporation. How BC owners qualify.
Read articleA well-drafted demand letter can resolve a BC dispute before a lawsuit is filed. A poorly drafted one can turn a winnable case into a bad one.
Read articleEvery BC company must file an annual report within two months of its recognition date. Miss two in a row and the Registrar can dissolve the company.
Read articleCommercial lease terms BC business owners should negotiate before signing: the Offer to Lease, fixturing periods, rent-free periods, and net operating costs.
Read articleA Personal Real Estate Corporation (PREC) offers licensed realtors in British Columbia a streamlined and tax-efficient way to operate their business.
Read articleHow a BC physician incorporates a medical professional corporation (MPC): the CPSBC permit, share structure, and eight steps from name to certificate.
Read articleLegal services can often feel out of reach for many people due to the high costs associated with hiring a lawyer.
Read articleThe distribution of a loved one’s estate can often lead to emotional and legal challenges, as was seen in a recent case involving Mrs. Law’s will.
Read articleBC caps annual rent increases each year, but landlords can apply to the RTB for more. How the cap works — and the case where a landlord was granted a 23.5% increase.
Read articleA BC company must keep a minute book at its records office. What the Business Corporations Act requires, and whether keeping your own is worth the risk.
Read articleWhen incorporating a business in Canada, one of the most critical decisions you’ll make is how to structure your shares.
Read articleSole proprietorship vs incorporation in BC: liability, tax, setup cost, and compliance compared in a table, with the situations where each one is the right call.
Read articleWe draft and review business contracts in BC — on both sides of the deal, from a one-page agreement to a multi-party shareholder agreement.
Read articleAn overview of the legal side of residential and commercial conveyancing in BC — what you deal with as a buyer, a seller, and on a refinance.
Read articleLife is unpredictable. Illness, accidents, or cognitive decline can strike without warning—leaving you unable to make or communicate your healthcare decisions.
Read articleAn enduring power of attorney in BC lets someone manage your finances if you lose capacity. How it differs from an ordinary POA and how to sign one.
Read articleIncorporating a company in BC — the structure choice, BC versus federal incorporation, the tax and liability advantages, and the records a corporation has to keep.
Read articleA plain-English guide to the trusts used in BC estate planning — alter ego, joint spousal, family, disability, and bare trusts — and what each one is actually for.
Read articleCreating a Will is an essential step in managing your estate, ensuring that your wishes are honoured after you pass away.
Read articleAn Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) in BC is not a criminal charge — but licence suspension, vehicle impoundment, and Motor Vehicle Act penalties follow.
Read articleIf your BC company has more than one shareholder, a shareholders' agreement sets the rules for decisions, share transfers, disputes, and exits.
Read articleWhen a BC landlord won't make repairs, tenants have options: written notice, an RTB repair order, compensation, and a rent reduction until it's fixed.
Read articleAccess to justice should not depend on money. Lessons from Hefzi v Louw, where commencing a judicial review cost $22,000, and why we offer pro bono services.
Read articleWhy BC real estate deals fall through — breach, misrepresentation, frustration — and the innocent party's remedies, from damages to specific performance.
Read articleCan an employer reduce your pay in BC? What the Employment Standards Act requires, why a pay cut generally needs your written consent, and when to get legal advice.
Read articleMultiple traffic tickets in BC trigger ICBC Driver Point and Driver Risk Premiums — $214 to $29,376 a year — plus possible driving prohibitions.
Read articleIn a BC real estate deal the completion date (BC's 'closing date'), the possession date, and the adjustment date mean different things. Here's how each one works.
Read articlePrivate mortgage lending in Canada offers an alternative when banks say no. How to qualify — including the 15% minimum down payment — and the risks to weigh.
Read articleBuying a home in Vancouver? Five common mistakes to avoid, from skipping mortgage pre-approval to forgetting closing costs like property transfer tax.
Read articleBC property transfer tax exemptions explained: first-time home buyers, newly built homes, related-individual transfers, and the 20% foreign-buyer tax.
Read articleHow much property transfer tax you pay in BC: the 1% / 2% / 3% brackets, the 2% luxury surtax, who pays and when, and worked examples from $500K to $3.2M.
Read articleTitle insurance protects a BC property owner against title fraud, liens, and defects a land title search can miss. What it covers, what it costs, and how to get it.
Read articleVancouver property purchase fees go beyond the price: property transfer tax, GST, title insurance, inspections, and legal closing costs. What to budget for.
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